Germany cites free speech amid Polish ire at Carnival float

BERLIN – The German government has rejected any suggestion it might take action over a Carnival float that drew the ire of Poland's government.

Poland's foreign minister Witold Waszczykowski said Tuesday that a float on display in Duesseldorf showed "disrespect toward Poles and Polish politicians" and that Warsaw wants to know "what is the aim of such antics."

The float, built for this week's Rose Monday parade, showed Poland's ruling party leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski dressed as a dictator with the heel of his boot on the head of a submissive, bleeding female figure representing Poland.

German government spokesman Steffen Seibert said Wednesday in Berlin that "we have freedom of expression and freedom of art in Germany."

Asked whether the government would reprimand anyone, he replied: "That is far from the government's mind."